I have been asked several times, why do you always write about “those’ Jews? I will briefly explain my reasoning behind this question.

In 1967, at Cecil Davis’s West Side Drug Store, I was having coffee with a group of men. In that group was Arnold Lefkovitz, a member of the only Jewish family in Cookeville, TN then. This was during the period of the Six-Day-War in Israel, and Arnold was really into an enthusiastic conversation about how the Jews were winning the conflict.

The Holy Spirit spoke to me and said, “Help the Jews in this war.” At that time I barely knew where Israel was, and to be perfectly honest, I did not care. I asked Arnold what I could do to help and he said, “Call the Jewish Federation in Nashville and ask them.” I did and they told me that Israel needed financial help and to send money, and I did.

Since that time I have been to Israel several times and have worked two summers in the Ukraine helping Soviet Jews immigrate to Israel. Because of my involvement with Israel and Jewish causes, I began to study the relationship between Judaism and Christianity.

I have learned during these studies that without the Jews there would be no Christianity. Our Christian roots are in Judaism and the Jews. Following are some biblical reasons:

Jesus was (is) a Jew. All the writers of the Old and New Testaments were Jews. All the Apostles were Jews. The Patriarchs were all Jews. The Christian Communion is from the Jewish Passover (Luke 22:14-20). Christian Baptism is from the Jewish example of immersion, called Mikvah (Ex. 29:4; Ex. 30:20). In the Heavenly Jerusalem the gates in the walls will be named after the twelve tribes of Israel Rev. 21:12. The foundations will be named after twelve Jewish apostles (Rev. 21:14). The twenty-four elders sitting on thrones in heaven are Jews (Rev. 4:4).

More reasons: Salvation is of the Jews (John 4:22). The Jews are a light to the Gentiles (Luke 2:31; Acts 13:47). We were aliens and strangers to the covenants of God (Eph. 2:11-13). The Word was entrusted to and kept by the Jews (Rom. 3:2). Christianity was built upon the foundations of the Jewish apostles and prophets (Eph. 2:20) The first Church was made up of thousands of Jews (Acts 2:41). The first Gentile Christians were Cornelius’ household (Acts 10), years after the Church comprised of Jews.

I hope this brief summary has enlightened you why I write about “those” Jews. For without them I would be without a Savior and without hope. Barach ha Shem, Blessed be the Name of the Lord.

Jim Brown lives in Cookeville, TN and attends Trinity Assembly of God in Algood, TN. He runs Menorah Ministries International and often leads tours of Believers to Israel. This article was previously published in the Herald-Citizen Church page.

Copyright 2002